SEQUIM –– The network of ditches that have watered farm fields in the Dungeness Valley will be celebrated over the next two weekends with the 119th Sequim Irrigation Festival.

Festival events will continue through May 11, with the Grand Parade Saturday, May 10.

The theme for this year's version of Washington state's oldest continuing festival is “Mountains to Sea . . . A Pristine Place to Be,” and the celebration's dignitaries reveal partialities to one side or the other.

“Ooh, the mountains,” said Jan Smith, who, along with husband Gary, is serving as Grand Marshal for this year's festival.

“I feel inspired by them. Gary may say the sea because we have a sailboat, but it doesn't give me the same inspiration as the mountains.”

Honorary Pioneer Glenn Greathouse gave the flip side to Smith's love of the mountains.

“I used to do a bit of mountain climbing when I was young,” Greathouse said. “But at this stage in my life, sitting in a sailboat sounds a lot nicer.”

Festival director Deon Kapetan showed allegiance to the sea.

“The sea has crabs,” Kapetan said. “That wins every day.”

Honorary Pioneer Mabel Sorensen and Grand Pioneer Dorothy Daniels Ludke both showed affinity with the ground between mountains and sea.

“We just live in such a beautiful place,” Ludke said. “I feel so blessed to be here.”

“I've always thought Agnew is the perfect place,” Sorenson said.

This weekend

Events will be citywide for the weeklong festival's first weekend, called the Crazy Callen Weekend.

Here is the schedule:

Saturday

■ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Family Fun Day will take over Washington Street between Sequim and Second avenues.

Booths set up by Sequim-area organizations will offer events and activities.

Vendors for the 24th year will have arts and crafts on display and for sale.

Live entertainment and food are planned throughout the weekend.

■ 10 a.m. — The Kids Parade will begin at Second Avenue and Washington Street (with lineup at 9:30 a.m.) and continue down the alley to Bell Street, then through the Street Fair to the entertainment stage at Bell Street and Second Avenue.

Awards will be given on the entertainment stage. Grand prize winners will ride in the Grand Parade on Saturday, May 10.

The culminating weekend of the Sequim Irrigation Festival will feature a Grand Parade, logging show and fireworks.

Here's what lies ahead:

■ Carnival, Thursday through May 11 — Davis Shows Northwest's carnival whips the festival back into shape in the Fir Street field west of Sequim High School from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, May 9; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 10; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 11.

■ Walking tour, Thursday — The history behind some of downtown's most prominent buildings will be featured in the Museum & Arts Center's second annual Sequim History Walking Tour.

The one-hour, one-block tour will be guided by Sequim pioneers who will share their personal connections to the buildings.